ging,
was so intense that all craft in the harbour had to put to sea in
order to escape their sails being singed. Rich men's safes were taken
to the water and cast in, and our divers were given the task of
finding them again subsequently. We had looked forward to forty-eight
hours' leave, but it was out of the question now. The Governor of the
colony being absent from the capital, our captain took pre-eminence,
and placed the inhabitants under martial law. Public houses were
closed, and we patrolled the city night and day with blank and ball
cartridges, for it was thought a panic might ensue, or worse still,
that evil-disposed persons might set fire to the other side of the
harbour, where were stored thousands of tons of cod-liver oil. A
strict watch was kept afloat also, our steam-launch patrolling the
harbour all night with an armed crew.

What about the dangerous ruins--should they be left standing? A party
of bluejackets went ashore with charges of dynamite to blow them
down. In the execution of their duty one of them found a part of the
silver communion plate which belonged to the English cathedral buried
in the debris. He brought it on board, and a skilled tradesman
converted it into various articles. I bought a ring which was made
out of it, but unfortunately lost it overboard. As to places of
worship, I think the only two which remained intact were the barracks
of the Salvation Army. As a relic of that great fire, I have in my
possession the stamp with which the books and papers in the Atheneum
reading room were marked.

There were landed from our ship quantities of stores, such as canvas
to shelter the homeless people, and barrels of salt provisions as
their victuals. The inhabitants after a while becoming somewhat
reconciled to their misfortune, we left St. John's to see it no more,
or so we then understood. We sailed for Bermuda, calling on the way
at Halifax. "Just another cruise to the West Indies, boys, and then
to dear old England," was the comforting assurance with which we
often hailed one another. As on two previous occasions, so now again,
we spent our Christmas at Bermuda with the fleet. The decorations on
this our third Christmas-tide were not to be compared with the
preceding year--a significant sign that there had been more scope for
harmonious feeling between officers and men during the last twelve
months. "Never mind, lads, we shall spend next Christmas at home,"
was the word of consolation p